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Goverment and Politics in Burma [20
- Subject: Goverment and Politics in Burma [20
- From: moe@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Thu, 20 May 1999 10:14:00
Subject: Goverment and Politics in Burma [20 May 1999]
Government and Politics in Burma
*****************************************
20 May 1999
The following document is a US government report on Government and Politics
in Burma. The document is based on facts investigated by US government
agencies worldwide.The report is the most recent and updated.
Sincerely,
Julien MNoe
*****************
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Union of Burma
conventional short form: Burma
local long form: Pyidaungzu Myanma Naingngandaw (translated by the US
Government as Union of Myanma and by the Burmese as Union of Myanmar)
local short form: Myanma Naingngandaw
former: Socialist Republic of the Union of Burma
Data code: BM
Government type: military regime
National capital: Rangoon (regime refers to the capital as Yangon)
Administrative divisions: 7 divisions* (yin-mya, singular?yin) and 7 states
(pyine-mya, singular - pyine); Chin State, Ayeyarwady*, Bago*, Kachin State,
Kayin State, Kayah State, Magway*, Mandalay*, Mon State, Rakhine State,
Sagaing*, Shan State, Tanintharyi*, Yangon*
Independence: 4 January 1948 (from UK)
National holiday: Independence Day, 4 January (1948)
Constitution: 3 January 1974 (suspended since 18 September 1988); national
convention started on 9 January 1993 to draft a new constitution; chapter
headings and three of 15 sections have been approved
Legal system: does not accept compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: Prime Minister and Chairman of the State Peace and
Development Council Gen. THAN SHWE (since 23 April 1992); note?the prime
minister is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: Prime Minister and Chairman of the State Peace and
Development Council Gen. THAN SHWE (since 23 April 1992); note?the prime
minister is both the chief of state and head of government
cabinet: State Peace and Development Council (SPDC); military junta, so
named 15 November 1997, which initially assumed power 18 September 1988
under the name State Law and Order Restoration Council; the SPDC oversees
the cabinet
elections: none; the prime minister assumed power upon resignation of the
former prime minister
Legislative branch: unicameral People's Assembly or Pyithu Hluttaw (485
seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 27 May 1990, but Assembly never convened
election results: percent of vote by party?NA%; seats by party?NLD 396, NUP
10, other 79
Judicial branch: limited; remnants of the British-era legal system in place,
but there is no guarantee of a fair public trial; the judiciary is not
independent of the executive
Political parties and leaders: Union Solidarity and Development Association
(USDA, proregime), THAN AUNG, general secretary; National Unity Party (NUP,
proregime), THA KYAW; National League for Democracy (NLD), AUNG SHWE,
chairman, AUNG SAN SUU KYI, general secretary; and eight minor legal parties
Political pressure groups and leaders: National Coalition Government of the
Union of Burma (NCGUB), headed by Dr. SEIN WIN?consists of individuals
legitimately elected to the People's Assembly but not recognized by the
military regime; the group fled to a border area and joined with insurgents
in December 1990 to form a parallel government; Kachin Independence Army
(KIA); United Wa State Army (UWSA); Karen National Union (KNU); several Shan
factions; All Burma Student Democratic Front (ABSDF)
International organization participation: AsDB, ASEAN, CCC, CP, ESCAP, FAO,
G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat
(nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO,
UPU, WHO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador TIN WINN
chancery: 2300 S Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 332-9044, 9045
FAX: [1] (202) 332-9046
consulate(s) general: New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Kent M. WIEDEMANN
embassy: 581 Merchant Street, Rangoon (GPO 521)
mailing address: Box B, APO AP 96546
telephone: [95] (1) 282055, 282181 (operator assistance required)
FAX: [95] (1) 280409
Flag description: red with a blue rectangle in the upper hoist-side corner
bearing, all in white, 14 five-pointed stars encircling a cogwheel
containing a stalk of rice; the 14 stars represent the 14 administrative
divisions
Source:US Intelligence Agencies